Apparatus and method for inflatable combination curtain fold

Abstract

A novel airbag curtain fold configuration for a safety restraint system, especially well suited to protect occupants of a vehicle from lateral impact is described. One or more airbag curtains are provided to inflate between an occupant and a lateral surface, such as a door or side window. The airbag curtain includes a first and second side. A fold portion is configured adjacent the first side and a rolled portion is configured opposite the fold portion adjacent the second side of the airbag. Attachment tabs may extend from an edge of the airbag curtain beyond the rolled and fold portions to facilitate attachment of the airbag curtain to a vehicle as part of an airbag system. A method for folding an airbag curtain is described. A first edge of the airbag curtain is folded to a position adjacent a first side of the airbag curtain. A second edge of the airbag curtain is rolled toward the first edge of the airbag curtain until the rolled portion is substantially adjacent the fold portion on an opposing side of the airbag curtain.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:  
     
       1. A method for folding an airbag curtain, the method comprising: 
       folding a first edge of the airbag curtain to a position adjacent a first side of the airbag curtain to thereby create a fold portion and a crease; and  
       rolling a second edge of the airbag curtain toward the first edge of the airbag curtain to thereby create a rolled portion of the airbag wherein the rolling occurs about an axis substantially parallel to the crease, and wherein the fold portion and the rolled portion are positioned on opposing sides of said crease in the airbag curtain.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the folding step comprises folding between about one half and about one twentieth of the width of the curtain to a position adjacent the first side of air bag. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the folding step comprises folding between about one sixth of the width of the curtain to a position adjacent the first side of the curtain. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the fold portion is between about 10 and about 150 millimeters. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the fold portion is less than about 46 millimeters. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rolled portion is substantially adjacent the fold portion on the same side of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rolling step comprises rolling the second edge of the airbag adjacent a second side of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rolled portion is substantially adjacent the fold portion on an opposing side of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of rolling further comprises rolling the second edge of the curtain toward a second side of the curtain until the height of the rolled portion is substantially equal to the width of the fold portion. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the rolled portion is between 10 and 150 millimeters. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the rolled portion is less than about 46 millimeters. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the rolled portion is between about 3 millimeters and about 50 millimeters. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the rolled portion is less than about 26 millimeters. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of laying the curtain flat on a folding surface. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the laying step comprises securing the curtain to the folding surface with suction. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the airbag curtain comprises a first tether attached adjacent a first edge of the curtain. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of placing a portion of the first tether within a perimeter of the curtain. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of placing a second end of the first tether substantially adjacent to a side edge of the curtain thereby allowing the second end to be retrievable after the curtain is rolled. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , the airbag curtain comprises an attachment tab that extends beyond the first edge of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein attachment tab extends beyond the rolled portion of the curtain, thereby permitting the packaged airbag to be attached to a vehicle. 
     
     
       21. A method for folding an airbag curtain, the method comprising: 
       folding a first edge of the airbag curtain to a position adjacent a first side of the airbag curtain to thereby create a fold portion and a crease; and  
       rolling a second edge of the airbag curtain toward the first edge of the airbag curtain to thereby create a rolled portion of the airbag adjacent a second side of the airbag curtain opposite the fold portion wherein the rolling occurs about an axis substantially parallel to the crease, and wherein the fold portion and the rolled portion are positioned on opposing sides of said crease in the airbag curtain.  
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the folding step comprises folding between about one half and about one twentieth of the width of the curtain to a position adjacent the first side of air bag. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the folding step comprises folding between about one sixth of the width of the curtain to a position adjacent the first side of the curtain. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the width of the fold portion is between about 10 and about 150 millimeters. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of rolling further comprises rolling the second edge of the curtain toward a second side of the curtain until the height of the rolled portion is substantially equal to the width of the fold portion. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the height of the rolled portion is between 10 and 150 millimeters. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the width of the rolled portion is between about 3 millimeters and about 50 millimeters. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the airbag curtain comprises a first tether attached adjacent a first edge of the curtain. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of placing a portion of the first tether within a perimeter of the curtain before the step of rolling thereby allowing the second end of the tether to be retrievable after the curtain is rolled. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 21 , the airbag curtain comprises an attachment tab that extends beyond the first edge of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein attachment tab extends beyond the rolled portion thereby permitting the packaged airbag to be attached to a vehicle. 
     
     
       32. An airbag curtain fold configuration comprising: 
       an airbag curtain having a first side and a second side and a first edge and a second edge;  
       a fold portion comprising the first edge folded adjacent the first side of the airbag curtain;  
       a rolled portion comprising the second edge rolled toward the first edge, said rolled portion being opposite the fold portion; and  
       a crease disposed between the fold portion and the rolled portion, wherein the rolled portion is rolled about an axis substantially parallel to said crease, and wherein the fold portion and the rolled portion are positioned on opposing sides of said crease in the airbag curtain.  
     
     
       33. The airbag curtain fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the rolled portion is positioned adjacent the second side of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       34. The airbag curtain fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the rolled portion is positioned adjacent the first side of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       35. The airbag curtain fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the airbag curtain further comprises an inflation conduit adjacent the first edge of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       36. The airbag curtain fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the fold portion comprises between about one half and about one twentieth of the width of the airbag curtain. 
     
     
       37. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 36 , wherein the fold portion comprises about one sixth of the width of the airbag curtain to a position adjacent the first side of the curtain. 
     
     
       38. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the width of the fold portion is between about 10 and about 150 millimeters. 
     
     
       39. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the width of the fold portion is less than about 46 millimeters. 
     
     
       40. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the height of the rolled portion is substantially equal to the width of the fold portion. 
     
     
       41. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the height of the rolled portion is between about 10 and about 150 millimeters. 
     
     
       42. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the height of the rolled portion is less than about 46 millimeters. 
     
     
       43. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the width of the rolled portion is between about 3 millimeters and about 50 millimeters. 
     
     
       44. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the width of the rolled portion is less than about 26 millimeters. 
     
     
       45. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the airbag curtain further comprises a tether with a first end attached adjacent a first edge of the curtain. 
     
     
       46. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 45  wherein a portion of the tether is positioned within a rolled portion. 
     
     
       47. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 46  wherein a second end of the tether is positioned substantially adjacent to a side edge of the airbag curtain thereby allowing the second end to be retrievable after the curtain is packaged. 
     
     
       48. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , wherein the airbag curtain further comprises an attachment tab extending beyond the first edge of the airbag curtain and beyond rolled portion thereby permitting the packaged airbag to be attached to a vehicle. 
     
     
       49. The airbag fold configuration of  claim 32 , further comprising two airbag curtains, each airbag curtain having a first side and a second side with a fold portion adjacent the first side of each airbag curtain and a rolled portion opposite the fold portion adjacent the second side of each airbag curtain.